Dental bite-plate.



Patented May- 29, I900.

AMI/111345 L. F. HOUGH.

DENTAL BITE PLATE.

(Application filed. Apr. 10, 1900.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrin.

LOUIS E. IIOUGI'I, OF HAMILTQN, VIRGINIA.

DENTAL BITE-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,464, dated May 29,1900.

Application filed April 10, 1900.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS F. HOUGH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hamilton, in the county of Loudoun and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Bite-Plates;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to dental appliances, and has for its object theproduction of an improved bite-plate which is employed in connectionwith the making of artificial upper and lower dentures and by the use ofwhich absolute accuracy in articulation is insured. The invention in itspreferred embodiment is set forth in detail in the following descriptionand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of a bite-plate embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is asectional view showing the application of the plate.

Referring to the said drawings by letter, A denotes the bite-plate,which is preferably constructed of metal, with side fiat plate members aa, connected at their forward end by a curved piece a. of wire, wherebylateral adj ustment of the plates a is permitted. Secured centrally tothe part a and extending rearwardly therefrom is a flat strip a whichmay be of the same material as the plates at. This strip for a portionof its length is in the plane of the plates a, but beyond said portionit is inclined upwardly and its free end is bent cylindrically toprovide a curved abutting surface a The plates and strip are providedwith oppositely-extending projections a a.

In practicing my invention, the wax impressions being taken, thebite-plate is pressed against the under side of the upper impression Band is held thereagainst by the engagement of the upper projections awith the wax. The impressions are then fitted to the mouth of thepatient, the introduction of the upper impression, carrying thebite-plate, bringing Serial No. 12,341. (No model.)

the abutment (L3 against the roof of the mouth. The lower jaw of thepatient is now raised, and during such movement the tongue is elevatedto the roof of the mouth and pressed against the abutment. As the jawsclose the lower projections on the plate enter the upper surface of thelower impression B, and the impressions are thus held together.

It has been found in practice that the greatest accuracy in the bite orarticulation is obtainable when the tongue of the patient is elevatedagainst the roof of the month. No means has, however, prior to thisinvention been devised whereby such position of the tongue is insured,and one of the objects of my invention is to provide means whichencourage such position, I having found by practice that the patientstongue naturally presses against the abutment, the pressure beingmaintained so long as the plate remains in the month. With the tongueexerting pressure against the abutment the movement of the lower jaw isaccurately controlled, so that when the attached impressions are removedit will be found that the proper bite or articulation is secured.

Various modifications in details may be made, and I do not thereforelimit myself to the construction shown and above described.

I claim as my invention- 1. A dental bite-plate having an upwardextension providing a tongue-rest or abutment.

2. A dental bite-plate having oppositelyextending projections to engagean upper and a lower impression, and a separate tonguerest or abutmentadapted to bear against the roof of the mouth.

3. A dental biteplate capable of lateral adjustment havingoppositely-extending projections to engage an upper and a lowerimpression, and a tongue-rest or abutment ex tending upwardly from theplate and adapted to bear against the roof of the mouth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS F. l-IOUGI-I.

IVitnesses:

L. M. BEATTY, A. A. Mooan.

